UK: Derailment Shuts Main Line

The train derailed near to Torness Power Station
The main railway line between Edinburgh and London
has been closed at Dunbar after a freight train carrying
empty nuclear fuel flasks derailed.

British Nuclear Fuels said the train was involved in a
"low speed minor derailment" at the Torness Power
Station, in East Lothian, at 0945GMT and no-one was
injured.

The company said the Direct Rail Services train was
travelling at 5mph and had been carrying three empty
nuclear fuel flasks.

The East Coast Main Line has been plagued with
problems following last year's Hatfield disaster which
was blamed on cracked rails.

Two of the wagons on the
train derailed and BNFL
said one of these was
carrying a nuclear flask.

The company said the
emergency services had
been called and the area
was being monitored as a
precautionary measure.

A spokesman said there
was "absolutely no
damage" to the flask.

Janine Claber, spokeswoman for freight company
Direct Rail Services, said all used nuclear fuel is
transported in heavily shielded, purpose-built
containers known as flasks, each weighing more than
50 tonnes.

Railtrack had been informed about the incident and
said it would be dealing with any disruption caused to
the network.

Two London to Edinburgh trains have already been
delayed by the closure.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said the
train was travelling at a low speed north from Carlisle.

It had been used to take spent nuclear fuel to the
Sellafield plant in Cumbria.

Travel problems

The derailment happened next to the East Coast Main
Line, which has been subject to disruption in recent
days because of the rail tragedy at Selby.

Recent problems caused by severe weather in
Scotland and northern England have also added to the
misery for cross-border rail travellers.

The incident comes amid continued concern over the
safety of the railways.

A major programme of track inspections and re-railing
was undertaken in Scotland and England after the
Hatfield crash which resulted in four deaths.